EPL Preview: Predicting the Liverpoll Starting XI vs. Bolton Wanderers

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(Bleacher Report)Liverpool are only two hours from facing off against Bolton. With the Reds having injuries to Glen Johnson, Raul Meireles and Steven Gerrard they are still not quite up to full strength.

However, they are much stronger than last season and have proven that.

The new boys seem to be settling in nicely. I am sure most of them will continue to hold onto their place in the first 11.

Jordan Henderson is the only player I expect to possibly be dropped, as Dirk Kuy'ts scoring history against Bolton could be a deciding factor for the Dutchman to start.

Here is a look at the Projected Reds Starting XI for today's match-up at Anfield......CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE SLIDESHOW.

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Liverpool vs. Bolton Wanderers: Luis Suarez vs. Gary Cahill and 4 Key Matchups

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(Bleacher Report)The Reds enjoyed finally getting a victory against Arsenal last weekend, and during they week they advanced to the next round of the Carling Cup.

Bolton Wanderers also advanced this week in the Carling Cup, but they suffered a frustrating 3-2 loss to Manchester City at the weekend.

Gary Cahill remains a Trotter for now and the Reds will be hoping to get their first home victory of the season and remain undefeated.

That said, let's take a look at some of the key matchups for Saturday's game at Anfield......CLICK HERE TO START THE SLIDESHOW.

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Liverpool FC: Luis Suarez, Charlie Adam and the Reds Starting XI vs. Arsenal

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(Bleacher Report)Liverpool are out to achieve their first win of the season, and a weakened Arsenal Gunners side looks to be on the menu.

The Reds should have taken a 2-1 victory at home on opening day, while Arsenal slumped to an away draw at St. James Park against Newcastle United.

With the Reds almost fully fit throughout the entire roster, they have the upper hand, and Kenny Dalglish will be willing his charges to victory.

I expect Luis Suarez to be primary creative cog for the Reds, as he will be all over the ball and the pitch up front.

Andy Carroll and Dirk Kuyt I assume will be the biggest goal threats, as the Reds front two may turn more to a front three at times with Kuyt or Downing playing in through the middle off the wings......CLICK HERE TO START THE SLIDESHOW.

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Liverpool vs. Manchester United - Match Preview

Article first published as Match Preview: Liverpool vs. Manchester United on Technorati.
Manchester Travels to Merseyside to Face the Reds at Anfield with the EPL Title possible on the line for the Red Devils

by Rhydon Atzenhoffer
March 5, 2011

Can the New Boys all Make an Impact Sunday?

Kenny Dalglish and his charges will host Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United Red Devils early Sunday afternoon at Anfield in front of a full Kop. The Reds took a devastating blow in their UEFA Champions League hopes when they fell to West Ham at the Boleyn Grounds a week ago, and the Manc's suffered a dreaded set back to their title hopes in a loss at Stamford Bridge to Chelsea on Tuesday night.

This sets the stage for yet another Dalglish vs Ferguson Match-up. The two Scotsmen have faced each other many times before. Dalglish stiffed his counterparts chances of a title in 1995 as Dalglish took Blackburn Rovers to the English Premier League title that year. Now King Kenny will hope that another victory over United will stifle if not eliminate the chances of Ferguson winning another as it would see his team to their 19th League Title surpassing Liverpool whom they are tied with on 18 currently.

Gerrard Ready after Being Sent of at Old Trafford

Injuries and suspensions are likely to play a heavy part on both sides as they are battered and tattered after a harsh campaign. This has been a crazy up and down year in the EPL and it looks to continue that trend.

Martin Kelly is definately a no-go for the Reds as he is out for at least a month due to his hamstring strain. Jonjo Shelvey is also out of contention for the bench according to Dalglish's press conference on Thursday. Daniel Agger, and Fabio Aurelio are both day to day, and Andrew Carroll is nearing his time to shine but it is unforeseen what the weekend holds for him.

Last time these to met at the beginning of Dalglish's new tenure the Red Devils won on an early penalty and saw Steven Gerrard sent off at the 32nd minute. This time around the Red Devils will be the team without their Captain Nemanja Vidic at the back. However, they will also be without their other star defender Rio Ferdinand, unless his injury is a staging point for Ferguson to throw on a miraculously healed vice-Captain. The Red Devils will have to rely on youth in Chris Smalling, and also on Wes Brown who has failed to truly get off the floor this campaign.

The Reds defense will also deal with a reshuffle. With Agger and Aurelio doubts it will possibly be back to Sotirios Kyrgiakos filling in next to Jamie Carragher and Martin Skrtel. Danny Wison could get the nod, but I truly see Agger and Aurelio making the cut.

Carra must be Up for It

United desperately need this win to stave off a charging challenger behind them in Arsenal and I would look to see Ferguson do one of two things, either pack his midfield in the beginning to help keep possession with Wayne Rooney alone up top, or her will go all out with Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov both charging up the middle.

After Kelly's injury on Sunday the Reds switch to a 4-4-2 rendered them in a tough spot in that match. I see Dalglish to go back to his 5-3-2 with Glen Johnson and Fabio Aurelio taking the attack to the wings. The loss of the Torres and Vidic match-up opens up the possibility of seeing a new battle that will epitomize the future match-ups as Suarez vs. Smalling could prove a big one for the coming years.

Predicted Line-Ups for the Match

Possible Liverpool Starting XI: Reina; Johnson, Skrtel, Carragher, Agger, Aurelio; Lucas, Gerrard, Meireles; Kuyt, Suarez.

Liverpool Subs: Carroll, Maxi, Wilson, Ngog, Kyrgiakos, Poulsen, Gulacsi.

Possible Manchester United Starting XI: Van Der Sar; O'Shea, Brown, Smalling, Evra; Fletcher, Carrick; Giggs, Scholes, Nani; Rooney.

Manchester United Subs: Kuszczak, Fabio, Anderson, Berbatov, Chicarito, Gibson, Valencia.

King Kenny for Permanent Boss

Article first published as King Kenny for Permanent Boss on Technorati.
Liverpool Players of Today, and Yesteryear all back Kenny Dalglish to be handed the Reigns Permanently at Anfield.

by Rhydon Atzenhoffer
February 9, 2011

Classic Arms Raised in Celebration

Since the Return of the King(Kenny Dalglish) Liverpool have been on a role. It took a loss and a draw for the Scottish leader to get his side figured out and has now lead them to four straight victories and 13 points out of a possible 15 in the league. This boost of performance has seen the Reds to sixth place in the table only six points down to Tottenham and Chelsea, whom the Reds defeated in a tactical masterpiece on Sunday afternoon.

Jamie Carragher has been Dalglish's prime supporter as the Reds vice-captain helps lead a surge of support to get the former Liverpool legend re-installed as the permanent Gaffer at the club. Carragher has made multiple comments regarding his icon, stating, “He’s brought the club together as one. The supporters are now behind everything, and I think that helped, the players and the supporters are all together."

“...I think Kenny coming in has galvanized the support behind the team again, and obviously his record as a manager in the past is fantastic. He’s one of the top managers around, he’s won four championships."

“It’s hard to put your finger on what he’s done. I would never criticize Roy Hodgson or say this manager is doing something different or is better, that is disrespectful. But it’s going well at the moment and we will certainly enjoy it.”

Carra and Kuyt Praise Dalglish

Steven Gerrard has also been a key supporter of the move for Dalglish to stay, and other players like Daniel Agger seem to finally have decided that Anfield is the place for them after reports a week ago that Agger was delighted to play for Kenny and that he desired to stay on Merseyside under the new skipper.

Dirk Kuyt is the latest first team star to come out and publicly back his manager in the press with his statements. The dutch striker spoke out saying, "He(Dalglish) is a legend, not only for the supporters, but also for the players. He has helped me a lot."

"We are really happy with Kenny so far. It has been really positive for us from the first day he came and he gave us a lot of belief."

"He said we were all quality players and that he was there to help us and that is really true."

"It has worked out very well with him and (new first-team coach) Steve Clarke and everything looks much better."

Former Liverpool greats Robbie Fowler and Jaime Redknapp also are joining in on the praise that is being heaped on the man that brought both of them through to Reds stardom. Fowler stated, "Kenny has a ­presence about him players respond to, and you can see that clearly over the past few weeks because the results couldn’t have been more impressive."

Dalglish made Fowler a Legend

"(Fernando) Torres leaving could have been a real problem but he has handled it decisively, and I don’t think there can be one complaint about his ­decisions – and that alone shows he is up to the task of taking the club forward."

Redkanpp added, "Kenny’s been a breath of fresh air. You can see he’s got Liverpool playing in a exciting way again, and it looks as though they are enjoying the changes he has made.

Another former great, John Aldridge, also got in on the comments in regards to the January transfer window, “The transfer window was very shrewd business by Kenny. He sold a player who didn’t want to play for the club any more and brought in one of the best up-and-coming strikers in the country."

Lastly Ian Rush and Steve McManaman got their shouts in for their former boss and friend. Rushie stated, "Kenny has shown exactly what he is made of, and just how much knowledge he has about the modern game."

Mcmanaman Honors his Former Boss

McManaman added, "I don’t see why not,” he said. “If Liverpool can take this four-game run to ten they could ­challenge." In regards to the debate over whether or not Liverpool have a chance of overtaking Chelsea and Tottenham and taking the fourth Champions League spot.

It is apparent that the King has many knights in his court lining up to join his round table in honor of his permanent appointment.

Chelsea 0 - Liverpool 1 Match Report

Article first published as Chelsea 0 - Liverpool 1 Match Report on Technorati.
Liverpool Stifle Blues and Torres at the Bridge

by Rhydon Atzenhoffer
February 7, 2011

Seeing a Blue El Nino banner and watching Torres walk to the center spot with a Blue kit instead of Red was a strange sight to so many on Sunday afternoon. Reds fans held up banners saying, "No One is Bigger than the Club," quoting Kenny Dalglish from his press conference earlier in the week.

A Blue no. 9

The Reds former frontman took to the pitch in his Chelsea debut looking to score and truly stick it to his former employers, however this would not be the case.

Chelsea's three prong attack of Fernando Torres, Didier Drogba, and Nicolas Anelka was anything short of toothless. Carlo Ancelotti looks to have one of, if not the most potent front lines in the English Premier League but that was not seen on the day.

Liverpool brought back the same formation as they had used against Stoke City during midweek to earn a 2-0 victory at Anfield. Jamie Carragher returned to bolster the three center backs with Martin Kelly and Glen Johnson returning to their roles as wing-backs to allow greater width in the Reds play.

The Reds kept Chelsea wanting all night long as a resolute Liverpool back line led by Carragher, whom Dalglish praised as a, "New Signing," in his post match press conference. The vice-captain made his presence felt when he slide to block the only true chance Torres would have to sniff at scoring against his old club.

Maxi Rodriguez missed a sitter to put the visitors in the lead during the first half when a brilliantly placed pass from Steven Gerrard came across the face of goal to the Argentine whom put it off the crossbar from about a meter out. It was one that hopefully wouldn't cause eventual heartache as it should have been 0-1 to the Reds.

Chelsea tried to attack and made moves but the majority of their shots were forced to have been taken from outside of the box, aside from Branislav Ivanovic's headers taken from corner kicks awarded to the Blues. The front three just couldnt seem to find a way to open up the defense.

It was a cagey match that seemed to just be back and forth. The first half ended with truly only Maxi's duffed attempt as the best chance on goal for either side. Torres, Drogba, and Anelka had done little to justify any of their price tags, and Kuyt alone up top had worked hard but not helped to create much either.

The second half started on that same note as it took over five minutes for anything of real merit to come together. Drogba and Anelka won several corners trying to get in and test Reina while Torres was hounded by at least two Reds defenders every time he touched the ball.

Ancelloti had seen enough by the 65' minute of the match and a lackluster Torres was withdrawn for Salomon Kalou and pushed Anelka more forward. Post match the Italian claimed Torres needed, "Time to Adjust," but it seems that the World Cup Winner is still just as off of his form in a Blue kit as in a Red one.

Four minutes after his substitution Raul Meireles, the Reds man on form, smashed home a Steven Gerrard cross after making a brilliant 30 meter run from the heart of midfield to give the visitors the lead at the 69' minute. That makes 4 goals in 5 games for the Portuguese and he continues to shine in a central attacking midfield role which he has seen under Dalglish.

Meire-lash 4 Goals in 5 Games

The Blues picked up their attack in the last ten minutes of the game as Kenny Dalglish replace Maxi Rodriguez with Fabio Aurelio, and Meireles with Christian Poulsen to help solidify the Liverpool defense as it looked to weather out the coming storm.

Shouts for handball on two separate occasions, and Glen Johnson lucky to get away with a challenge on Ivanovic saw the Blues not have a chance for a penalty to bring them level.

The Reds held off through four minutes of added time, and the additional Manchester United added time that nearly made it five minutes, which Chelsea another attacking chance, to take away there first victory at Stamford Bridge in years.

Luis Suarez remained on the bench for Liverpool as Dalglish elected to let him continue his quest for full fitness on the training ground as his charges once again held for a fourth consecutive victory and a fourth consecutive clean sheet.